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Winners of the astronomy photo prize reveal the beauty of the universe

“Transport the Soul”

Brad Goldpaint

By Timothy Revell

This magnificent image of a keen astrophotographer in Moab, Utah was taken by Brad Goldpaint. The photo captures the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way and the vast canyons below. It won the top prize at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2018 awards, landing Goldpaint a £10,000 cheque and pride of place at an exhibition of the winners at the National Maritime Museum.

“For me this superb image is emblematic of everything it means to be an astrophotographer; the balance between light and dark, the contrasting textures and tones of land and sky and the photographer alone under a starry canopy of breathtaking scale and beauty,” said Will Gater, one of the judges.

As well as an overall winner, the judges selected winners and runners-up within specific categories. Here are our favourites.

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Castlerigg Stone Circle

Mathew James Turner

Matthew James Turner captured his first ever encounter with aurora borealis in this image, one of the runners-up of the Aurorae category. In the foreground is Castlerigg Stone Circle, in Cumbria, UK, which is lit up by the Moon.

NGC 3521, “Mysterious Galaxy”

Steven Mohr

The winner of the Galaxies category was Steven Mohr for this image of the spiral galaxy NGC 3521. The galaxy is located around 26 million light-years away and was photographed from Victoria, Australia.

The boundary between Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquillitatis

Jordi Delpeix Borrell

Jordi Delpeix Borrell’s photo negative won the category titled Our Moon. Inverting the colours can often reveal more detail in an astronomy image and that is exactly what happens here. The photo shows the border between the Sea of Serenity and the Sea of Tranquility.

“Sun King, Little King, and God of War”

Nicolas Lefaudeux

Sitting to the left of the sun is the blue star Regulus, known as the little king, and out on the right is the red planet Mars — the Roman god of war. Nicolas Lefaudeux took this image during the total solar eclipse in August last year, from a vantage point in Oregon, USA. It won the Our Sun category.

Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula

Mario Cogo

From a small farm in Namibia, Mario Cogo managed to capture the wonder of the Witch Head Nebula and the supergiant star Rigel — the brightest star in the constellation Orion. The image was runner up in the Stars and Nebulae category.

“Great Autumn Morning”

Fabian Dalpiaz (aged 15)

The Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year was won by Fabian Dalpiaz, aged 15. Early one morning before an exam at school, the budding astrophotographer struck lucky as a meteor passed over the Dolomites in Italy.

“First Impressions”

Casper Kentish (aged 8)

And finally one highly commended young astronomy photographer was Casper Kentish, aged 8, who managed to capture the Moon using an iPad and his new birthday present — a telescope.